Castine Postal History
Hancock County, Maine
last update for this page: 19 September 2021
Maine Postal History
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Waterville Stamp Club
Thank you for the contributions to this page from James Husson and from the Strout family collection.
During the history of the town of Castine, there have been two post offices.
Brieflu, the history of these two is as follows:
1. Penobscot (1) post office was established on 2 September 1794, which was renamed in 1796 on either 23 November or 19 September as Castine post office, which is still operating.
2. Penobscot (2) post office opened on 21 August 1815, closed on 1 April 1819, re-opened on 20 April 1825, and was renamed on 31 December 1828 as North Castine post office. North Castine post office closed on 12 January 1869, re-opened on 8 February 1869, and closed on 8 December 1961.
In 1914, there was two post offices in what is now Castine: Castine and North Castine. (source: Post Route Map of the State of Maine 1914)
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Postmarks from the town of Castine include:
Castine
1796 {November 23 or September 19):
The former Penobscot (1) post office was renamed as Castine post office. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)
1851 September 16:
The circular postmark is approximately 30 mm in diameter. (notation; letter)
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1853? March 17:
The circular postmark is approximately 30 mm in diameter. (letter [page 1], letter [page 2])
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1895 June 6: [year determined from reverse side]
The circular postmark is 27–28 mm in diameter.
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1897 July 26:
The circular postmark is 27–28 mm in diameter.
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1902 August 24:
The circular postmark is 27–28 mm in diameter.
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1907 April 6:
The circular postmark is 29–30 mm in diameter.
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1939 December 11:
The circular postmark is 29–30 mm in diameter.
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1948 December 24:
The circular postmark is 29–30 mm in diameter.
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2006 June 21:
The circular postmark is 34–36 mm in diameter.
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2020:
Castine post office. 43 Main Street; Castine, Maine 04421. Lat./Long.: N 44°23′19″ x W 68°47′54″
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today:
Castine post office is still in operation.
North Castine
1828 December 31:
The former Penobscot (2) post office was renamed as North Castine post office. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)
1869 January 12:
North Castine post office closed. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)
1869 February 8:
North Castine post office re-opened. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)
1907 July 2:
The circular postmark is approximately 31 mm in diameter. The outside vertical height of the four horizontal bars to the right of the circle is 13–14 mm.
(click on image to enlarge)
1961 December 8:
North Castine post office closed. (source: Maine Philatelic Society. 1995. The Post Offices of Maine: A Rarity Guide.)